Each week we conduct Orientation Class for new Wayne Township Assistance clients. During class there are presentations by representatives of several departments of our office.The speakers outline the role of their departments including Employment, Workfare, Investigations and Payee. I conclude the class by encouraging clients to gain the self confidence they need to move on with their lives. Once a client finishes the Orientation Class, he or she receives a Certificate of Completion, which is...

The economy is changing. Businesses and industries are more high-tech, and today's jobs demand a skill set to match. Going to college or seeking specialized training is quickly becoming a prerequisite to secure well-paying employment.

A recent report from Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce suggests that by 2020, 65 percent of all jobs will require postsecondary education and training, up from 28 percent in 1973.

I'm pleased to share with you that progress continues to be made to protect the Dalevue-Fernwood neighborhood along the Fairfield Ditch. I joined with City staff members and residents on April 22 to break ground for a flood control project that will protect the area in the future.

The low-lying area along the Fairfield Ditch in Waynedale, in particular along Dalevue Drive and Fernwood Avenue, has experienced chronic flooding since the 1950s. For more than 10 years, we've worked closely with...

I feel strongly that obtaining education is a large factor in reducing poverty. At the Wayne Township Trustee Office we wish to help empower our clientele, therefore we have partnered with the Fort Wayne Urban League and The Boys and Girls Club to expound the need for continued education. We work with the organizations to pay tribute to students for their success in improving their grades and attendance.

I want to invite you to take a visit to downtown to see the new Envision Fort Wayne Center at 916 S. Calhoun Street. The center is a storefront that provides citizens with ways to learn about and contribute to community projects such as Riverfront Fort Wayne and the Downtown Fort Wayne Plan 2020.

A grant from the Knight Foundation is covering the costs for the rent, utilities, furnishings and equipment at the facility. City Planning Department employees staff the center and discuss ideas with...